By Abdul Gani, TwoCircles.net,
Guwahati: Prominent author Homen Borgohain, who returned his Sahitya Akademi recently protesting against the ‘intolerance’, was honoured with litterateur Ismail Hussain memorial Harmony Award in Guwahati on Sunday.
After accepting the award Borgohain said that the East Bengal origin Muslims played a major role in promoting Assamese language and literature in the state.
Char Chapori Sahitya Parishad (CCSP), a literary body of Assam which represents the Muslims living on the riverine areas of the state presents the award instituted after Ismail Hussain, a pioneer of literature of the char chapori people.
Author Homen Borgohain (c) receives Ismail Hussain Memorial Harmony award
“The reality is that at the present time, only the people of the char chapori (riverside) area and the tea tribe can write and speak Assamese properly. The so called Assamese middle class people have forgotten the language as they run to get their children admitted to the English medium schools,” Borgohain said.
He also said that the state has witnessed several problems as Assamese society has failed to embrace the East Bengal origin Muslims. “The Assamese society has also seen these people who have migrated some 150 years with suspicion,” Borgohain said.
Borgohain who was also the president of Asam Sahitya Sabha (ASS) in its Kalgachia convention said that even the ASS did not take any major steps to uplift them. “I tried my best to do something when I was the president but thereafter I have not seen any such steps from the sabha,” he added.
Talking about Ismail Hussain, who is known to be the pioneer in the field of literature among the char chapori (river side) people, Borgohain said that he played a major role to unite the people in communal harmony. “Ismail Hussain deserves more,” he added.
Borgohain who was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award in Assamese language for his novel Pita Putra in 1978 returned his award protesting against the increasing ‘fascism’ in the country.
“There has been a silent protest inside me since the Dadri killing (in Uttar Pradesh). But I failed to find a way to express this. Now after seeing at least 10 Akademi winners returning their awards one after another against the growing religious intolerance, I too felt to have got a way to express my protest. However, my symbolic protest to return the Sahitya Akademi award is not only against the Dadri killing but against the growing fascist tendency in the country and against the evil forces trying to hit hard at the core ideology of Indian civilisation and culture,” he had said.
Recently, one BJP MP Rameswar Teli had to apologize after alleging Borgohain of taking money from Congress to return his award.
Born in 1947 at Borpalli village in Barpeta district, Ismail Hussain did his graduation from MC College in Barpeta. CCSP president Hafiz Ahmed said that Hussain was known for his tireless efforts in creating awareness about literature among the people living on the chars. throughout his life, he constantly wrote on the life, economy and culture of the char areas and tried his best for the uplift of people living there.
“Ismail Hussain was a nice person who always tried his best towards the uplift of the downtrodden. His writings reflected the struggle and life of the riverine people. We have also to appreciate his enormous effort to educate the people,” said Ahmed.
Peasants’ leader Akhil Gogoi who was also present during the occasion said that Ismail Hussain marks the harmony and unity among the religions. “Homen Borgohain has been appropriately selected for the award. We are glad to see him with this award,” said Gogoi.
Recently, one BJP MP Rameswar Teli had to apologize after alleging Borgohain of taking money from Congress to return his award.
Born in 1947 at Borpalli village in Barpeta district, Ismail Hussain did his graduation from MC College in Barpeta. CCSP president Hafiz Ahmed said that Hussain was known for his tireless efforts in creating awareness about literature among the people living on the chars. Throughout his life, he constantly wrote on the life, economy and culture of the char areas and tried his best for the uplift of people living there.
“Ismail Hussain was a nice person who always tried his best towards the uplift of the downtrodden. His writings reflected the struggle and life of the riverine people. We have also to appreciate his enormous effort to educate the people,” said Ahmed.
Peasants’ leader Akhil Gogoi who was also present during the occasion said that Ismail Hussain marks the harmony and unity among the religions. “Homen Borgohain has been appropriately selected for the award. We are glad to see him with this award,” said Gogoi.